[4 September 2026]
ICASA has issued notice of its proposal to introduce mandatory service codes for provincial government services.
Numbering Plan Notice mandating service codes designated for provincial government
The Notice identifies the applicable service codes and requires all licensees to ensure that calls to these codes are correctly routed and provided at no charge to callers. These requirements must be implemented no later than 180 calendar days after the date of publication of a final notice.
Comments may be submitted to eletlape@icasa.org.za by 16h00 on 13 October 2026.
[12 July 2026]
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), acting on recommendations from its Complaints and Compliance Committee, has penalized a domestic telecommunications operator with a R6 million fine along with additional sanctions due to non-compliance with regional Numbering Plan Regulations.
ICASA Issues Penalties to Session Telecoms over Numbering Plan Breaches
MTN vs Session Telecoms CCC Ruling
“The committee’s recommendations considered several factors: the scope and timeframe of the violations, the prospective financial gain from the unauthorized activities, and a lack of complete cooperation during the inquiry. Given the gravity of these infractions, the regulator handed Session Telecoms two distinct R3 million fines—one for violating Regulation 6(3)(f) and another for breaching Regulation 6(3)(g).”
[3 July 2026]
Updated rules regarding the deactivation and reassignment of mobile numbers were officially gazetted on 1 July 2026 as part of the latest revisions to the Numbering Plan.
Numbering Plan Fourth Amendment Regulations 2026
Although the text states that these measures take effect immediately upon publication, the supporting explanatory note outlines a six-month grace period. This gives mobile operators time to adapt their technical infrastructure, meaning full implementation is anticipated for January 2027.
[5 July 2025]
ICASA released additional proposed amendments to its 2016 Numbering Plan Regulations. These new rules specifically address the deactivation and recycling of mobile numbers.
This latest proposal, formally known as the Draft Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations 2025, builds upon a process initiated on September 21, 2023.
Draft Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations 2025
Written submissions on these proposed amendments can be sent via email to Mr. E Letlape at eletlape@icasa.org.za. The deadline for submissions is 16:00 on August 15, 2025.
[5 November 2024]
The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies has released a draft policy directive for public comment, proposing the phasing out of emergency numbers 10177, 10111, and 107 in favor of a unified national public emergency number: 112.
Draft Policy on a Single Emergency Number
The draft policy also acknowledges that plans to establish “112 Emergency Centres” were not realized, and highlights that “electronic communications network service providers currently route calls to the 112 emergency number to their own communication centers or use Automatic Voice Response (AVR) systems to direct calls appropriately.” As a result, the policy suggests updating regulations to remove references and reliance on the 112 Emergency Centres.
Text of the Policy Directive
2. Policy Direction
2.1 The Authority is hereby directed, in terms of section 3(2) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005) (the Act) to consider phasing out the 10177, 10111 and 107 emergency numbers including the amendment of the Regulations published in Government Gazette No. 31230, General Notice No. 862 of 11 July 2008 for this purpose, to ensure that the 112 number becomes the exclusive national public emergency number.
Comments are due by 30 November 2024 and can be submitted via email to mpaul@dcdt.gov.za, addressed to Mr. T Ngobeni, Deputy Director-General: ICT Infrastructure Development and Support.
[13 April 2024]
Public hearings on the draft amendments to the 2016 Numbering Plan Regulations, which aim to modify the prescribed period of inactivity for numbers, will be held at ICASA’s head office on November 17, 2024.
ICASA to hold public hearings on amended draft Numbering Plan Regulations Advisory
[21 September 2023]
ICASA has released draft amendments to the Numbering Plan Regulations of 2016, which revise the designated period of inactivity for phone numbers.
Written comments on the draft regulations must be submitted by November 2, 2023. Submissions can be sent via email to ELetlape@icasa.org.za.
Draft Numbering Plan Fourth Amendment Regulations
[17 September 2023]
Numbering Plan Third Amendment Regulations 2023
A third set of amendments to the Numbering Plan Regulations 2014 was published and took effect on September 15, 2023.
The amendments aim to:
- Correct an error to ensure the 116 short code for child protection is properly addressed in the Regulations.
- Allow for further consultation on issues related to the activation, deactivation, re-assignment, and recycling of numbers.
[4 May 2023]
ICASA has released the Numbering Plan Second Amendment Regulations for 2023.
Numbering Plan Second Amendment Regulations, 2023
[13 June 2022]
ICASA will conduct public hearings on the draft Numbering Plan Second Amendment Regulations on June 23 and 24, 2022.
Public Hearings: Draft Amendment Numbering Plan Regulations, 2016
[31 May 2022]
The following links provide access to submissions received by ICASA in response to the draft Amendment Numbering Plan Regulations, 2016:
- AmaBhungane
- Arthur G B Lewis
- Cell C
- Chris Schutte
- ECN
- Eleanor Duvel
- Fish Hoek Valley Ratepayers & Residents Association
- ISPA
- John Brice Belgrove
- Marietjie Cloete
- Mary-Anne
- Media Monitoring Africa
- Right 2 Know
- Telkom
- Vodacom
[23 March 2022]
ICASA has announced its plan to amend the Numbering Plan Regulations, 2016.
Written submissions regarding the draft Regulations should be submitted no later than 11 May 2022. Submissions can be sent via email to ELetlape@icasa.org.za and TKhomo@icasa.org.za.
Draft Amendments to the Numbering Plan Regulations March 2022
[3 February 2022]
The transition to exclusively using the 116 short code for accessing toll-free child helpline services has been delayed once more, now scheduled for 15 March 2021.
ICASA has urged licensees to install a recorded voice message informing callers about the upcoming switch to the 116 short code. This message should be played on calls to both the current and new numbers.
Notice extending use of the toll free number for child helpine services [2 February 2021]
[19 January 2021]
ICASA has postponed the discontinuation of the current Child Helpline Service Hotline (0800 05 55 55) from 15 January 2021 to 15 March 2021. After this date, the unified short code 116, as per the revised Regulations, will be implemented. Licensees are instructed to maintain traffic routing to the current number during this transition period. More information is available in the ICASA statement provided below.
[16 April 2020]
ICASA has published the Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations, 2020, which will take effect three months after their publication in the government gazette (15 April 2020).
Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations, 2020
[3 March 2019]
ICASA has released proposed changes to the Numbering Plan Regulations 2016, aimed at standardizing the use of the short code 116 for child helpline services.
Submissions must be submitted by 12 April 2019 and should be sent to tkhomo@icasa.org.za.
This effort follows a resolution by the Communications Regulatory Association of Southern Africa (“CRASA”), urging member states to offer toll-free communication services for callers contacting child helplines.
Draft Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations 2018: Short Code 116 for child helpline services
[21 May 2018]
ICASA has required all relevant licensees to submit progress reports on the migration of machine-related services to the designated 14-digit numbering block. These reports must follow the format outlined in the accompanying Notice.
The reports are due on the following dates:
- 31 May 2018
- 20 July 2018
- 7 September 2018 (final report before the 28 September 2018 deadline)
All reports must be submitted by 4:00 PM on the specified dates.
Machine Related Service Migration Progress Reports
[30 March 2017]
ICASA extended the deadline for migrating machine-related services to the 14-digit numbering block. Service providers now have until 28 September 2018 to complete this migration. The amendment to the Numbering Plan Regulations 2016 came into effect on 27 March 2017.
Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations 2017
[20 February 2017]
ICASA has issued an explanatory document outlining the rationale behind its newly implemented regulations governing Premium Rated Services.
Reasons Document Code of Conduct for Premium Rated Services 17 February 2017
[7 November 2016]
ICASA Code of Conduct for Premium Rated Services 2016
ICASA has published the finalized Code of Conduct for Premium Rated Services.
The Code of Conduct took effect on November 4, 2016. It is part of the regulations under the Electronic Communications Act and applies to all licensees of electronic communications network services (ECNS) and electronic communications services (ECS).
[30 March 2016]
ICASA has released the Numbering Plan Regulations for 2016.
Numbering Plan Regulations 2016
[30 March 2016]
ICASA will hold public hearings on the Draft Regulations for a Code of Conduct for Premium Rated Services on March 31, 2016, at its head office in Sandton.
Schedule for Presentations on Draft PRS Code of Conduct
[6 March 2016]
Here are the links to the submissions received by ICASA in response to the Draft Regulations on a Code of Conduct for Premium Rated Services.
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[20 January 2015]
ICASA will hold public hearings regarding the draft Numbering Plan Regulations and its Erratum on February 8th and 9th.
Public Hearings Draft Numbering Plan Regulations
[29 December 2015]
ICASA has released a draft code of conduct to establish minimum standards for the provision of premium-rated services.
Comments must be submitted by 16:30 on 12 February 2016, and can be sent to Ms. Tumishang Makhafola of the Numbering Division at TMakhafola@icasa.org.za (Cc: numberingapplications@icasa.org.za).
Draft Regulations on a Code of Conduct for Premium Rated Services
Explanatory Document – Draft Regulations for a Code of Conduct for Premium Rated Services
A premium rated service is defined as:
“Premium rated service” means a service accessible by means of premium rated numbers irrespective of the originating electronic communications network used, whereby the service charged at a higher rate than a standard rate service (nominal rate based on an end-user’s billing plan) and in some instances where a portion of the charge is passed to a premium rated service provider.
[15 November 2015]
ICASA is inviting public feedback on the proposed amendments to its draft Numbering Plan Regulations 2015.
Please submit your comments by 16:30 on December 3, 2015. Comments should be sent in Microsoft Word format to Mr. Mokibelo Maake at mmaake@icasa.org.za, with a copy to numberingapplications@icasa.org.za.
Notice regarding Errata in the Draft Numbering Plan Regulations 2015
The proposed amendments relate to
- the addition of a definition of “bulk SMS/MMS service”:
“Bulk Short Message Service (SMS)\ Multi Media Service (MMS) service” means a subset service of Machine Related services (MRS) which comprises of communication, sent in large volumes, that originates from a device or machine to persons;”
- New regulations state that Bulk SMS/MMS services provided from previously allocated numbers are exempt from migrating to machine-related services (MRS). However, any future assignments for bulk SMS/MMS services that exceed the numbering capacities reserved and provisioned by providers must fall within the designated numbering range for MRS.
- Additionally, new codes have been introduced for accessing government services.
[26 August 2015]
ICASA has announced a postponement for compliance with the toll-free framework, premium rate service code of conduct, and the migration of machine-related services. A new date has not yet been specified.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (“the Authority”) hereby gives notice postponing the implementation dates as specified in the General Notice number 852 of 2014.
The new implementation timelines of regulations (24), (25) and (26) of the Numbering Plan Regulations, GG 35737 will be communicated by the Authority in due course, pending the finalisation of the draft Numbering Plan Regulations and the Premium Rate Services Code of Conduct.
ICASA had earlier extended the compliance deadline for the toll-free framework and premium rate service code of conduct to July 31, 2015, and the compliance deadline for the migration to machine-related services to December 31, 2015.
[27 June 2015]
ICASA has released the draft Numbering Plan Regulations 2015 for public comment.
Please submit written representations by 16:30 on August 7, 2015, via post, hand delivery, facsimile transmission, or email (in Microsoft Word format) to: Mr. Mokibelo Maake Project Leader Fax: (011) 566 3704 Phone: (011) 566 3703 Email: mmaake@icasa.org.za
Draft Numbering Plan Regulations 2015
Draft Application form for telecommunications numbers or codes
Explanatory document for the Numbering Plan Regulations 2015
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